Casing for paintbrushes



June 18, 1929. DAHLSTRQM v 1,717,357

- CASING FOR PAINTBRUSHES Filed May 27, 1927 Patented June 18, 1929.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN F. DAHIiSTROM, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

CASING FOB PAINTBRUSHES.

Application filed May 27, 1927. Serial No. 194,634.

My invention relates to the preservation of paint brushes and is more particularly con-V in pails or cans resting upon their bristles in such a position that the bristles are bent over and practically ruined for further use even 1f they are kept from drying out and becoming sti When it is desired to use the brush again, it is generally necessary to use a paint solvent to restore the brush to flexible condition, and to subject the brush to very rough treatment in the cleaning operation so that the bristles are broken, bent or otherwise deformed in such manner that the brush does not possess the desirable characteristics which are present in a new brush. Other methods of the preservation of brushes consist of placing them in a pail of liquid such as water or paint oils, but such a container is not adapted for convenient transp'oration and the use of water destroys the texture of the bristles, as the bristles are generally of the shape of a microscopic tube which will absorb the water by capillary action.

While I am aware that paint brush casings have been made in which the handle projected through an aperture in a rubber wall, the casings of the prior art not capable of completely enclosinga paint brush in such mannor that the handle of the brush is adequately supported so that the bristles cannot be bent, and in such manner that the bristles are enclosed in an air tight container. g

One of the objects of my invention'is the provision of a paint brush casing which is adapted to receive a paint brush and fit closely about the same so as to preclude the circulation of air within said casing and which isadapted to be positively closed so that the casing is air tight, thereby preventing the evaporation of such liquid as may remain in the bristles of the paint brush after use.

Another object of my invention is the provision of a paint brush casing of the class described including a casing conforming closely to the shape of the paint brush, an air tight cover for said casing, positive means forsupporting the brush in the casing otherwise than by means of its bristles, and a clamping device for holding said cover firmly upon said casing to form an air tight closure.

Other objects and advantages of my invention will appear more fully from the accompanying description and from the accompanying drawings in which similar charaeters of reference indicate similar parts throughout the several views. Referrlng to the drawings: Flgure 1 is a plan view in partial cross section of a paint brush casing used with a flatbrush;

Figure 2 is an elevational view of the same in partial cross section;

. Figure 3 is a plan view in partial cross section of a modified form ofpaint brush casing, and

Figure 4 is an elevational view of the same in partial cross section. 1

Referring to Figures 1 and 2, 10 indicates in its entirety my paint brush casing which is here shown enclosing a fiat paint brush 11. The casing 10 may consist of a main casing member 12 having a broad portion 13 of substantially rectangular cross section, which is adapted to receive the main body of the brush and the bristles, and an extension 14 conforming substantially to the shape of the handle 15 of the paint brush and adapted'to receive said handle.

As the handle 15 is customarily made narrower near the body 11 of the brush as at 16 and as the extension 14 of thecasing must pass the end 17 of the handle, the casing 14 must be of greater width than the neck 16 at the point 18. However, the main casing member 12 may be made to conform quite closely to the size and shape of the paint brush 11 so as to receive the same without leaving any extra space for air. Theboxlike portion 13 of the casing 12 extends sufiiciently beyond the shoulders 19 to completely enclose the ends of the bristles 20, and the open end of the casing 12 may be rolled or crimped to provide a suitable bearing surface for said end against the cover. I prefer to form the open end of the casing 12 with an outwardly extending flange 21 and a backward fold 22 about the edge of the casing at said open end so as to provide considerable flat surface for bearing against a gasket carried by the cover 23.

The cover 23 comprises an elongated cupshaped member of a cross sectional shape similar to that of the casing 12 and of a size adapted to fit over the flanges 21 and 22. The cover 23 may be formed with an integral inwardly projecting peg 24 which is adapted to retain the brush in fixed position without possibility of injury to the bristles 20. The general type of brush as shown in Figures 1 and 2 is formed with a central core or body 25 about which the bristles 20 are assembled as shown in Figure 2, being secured thereon by a binding strip 26, and it will be observed that the peg 24 may be made of sufiicient length to bear against the body 25without interfering with the bristles 20. i The cover 23 may be provided with a rubber gasket 27 having a central aperture 28 to receive the peg 24 and when the cover 23 is placed upon the casing 13, the gasket 27 may be compressed between the cover and the flange 22 forming an air tight closure. The length of the peg 24 may be made such that when the gasket 27 is sufliciently compressed to form an air tight closure, the shoulders of the brush body will bear against the ends 19 of the main casing, thereby enabling the peg 24 to firmly fix the brush within the cas ing. However, if desired, a small amount of play may be permitted between the shoulders 29 and walls 19 of the main casing so that the clamping of the gasket 27 by the covering will not be limited by the peg 24.

The handle portion 14 of the casing 10 may be provided with a depression 30 in its end and the cover 23 may likewise be provided with a depression 31 for the purpose of receiving the ends of the clamping member 32, further to be described. The clamping member 32 may comprise a flat strip of resilient sheet metal having its end bent at right angles as at 33, and formed with a backward turn as at 34 to provide a rounded inner surface which may be received in the depression 30. The opposite end 36 of the clamping member 32 may be formed with a simple hinge and connected by said hinge to a similar extension 37 which is bent at substantially right angles outward about the edge of the cover as at 38 and inward over the top of the cover as at 39. The end 40 of the extension 37 is likewise backwardly'bent to form a rounded surface which may be received in the depression 31, and the total length of the clamping member 32 with its extension 37 is such that when it is upon the casing 10 the cover 23 is tightly clamped on said casing.

In order to insure against the loss of the clamping member 32 from the casing 10, I prefer to fix the same to a sheet metal band 41 which may extend about the body 13 of the casing and to which the clamping member 32 may be affixed by riveting, soldering or other convenient fastening means. If the casing member 10 is constructed of metal, the lower end 32 of the clamping member may be eliminated and the clamping member secured directly to the casing without the band 41, by means of rivets or solder.

It will be obvious that the resilient flan go 39 of the clamping member may be bent upward and the clamping membe swung backward at the hinge 36 to release the pressure from the cover, which may then be removed.

While I have shown the peg in holding position with a brush of the type wherein the bristles are secured about a core, this structure is equally well adapted to be used with brushes in which the bristles are molded uniformly within the core. In sucn case the peg 24 may project down between the bristles until it engages the molded core of the brush and the peg may be made suiliciently sharp so that it will not engage or damage any of the bristles.

Referring to Figures 3 and ,4, I have here shown a modified form of paint brush casing comprising a casing member 12 of substantially the same shape as the casing described in Figures 1 and 2. The main difference between this embodiment and the preceding one lies in the fact that the cover 23 is here adapted to be received within the walls of the easing 12 instead of outside of said walls. The open end of the main casing 13 may? be crimped backward as at 42 to provide a seat for the gasket 27.

. The cover 23 in this embodiment con prises a flat upper portion 43 having a similar depression 31 and the upper portion 43 may be of slightly greater area than the area of the open end of the casing. The edges of the cover may be folded inward at 44 and downward at i 45 forming a cover of substantially rectangular cross section which is adapted to fit snugly within the walls of the casing 13. The flanges 44 are adapted to form a seat for the gasket 27 and to clamp the gasket against the crimped edge 42 to form an air tight closure.

The present embodiment differs also in the provision of the means for holding the brush in fixed relation within the casing. For this purpose the lowerside 46 of the cover may be extended from the flange 45 forming a shelf-like member which conforms substantially, to the shape of the brush and which may be received within the ca sin g. The shelf 46 likewise extends underneath the brush down into the handle portion 14 of the casing, being upwardly bent as at 47 to form a hook which is adapted to be received in an aperture 48 in the brush.

It will thus be observed that the brush 11 may be laid upon the shelf 46 with the hook 47 in the aperture 48 and the bristles 2O disposed within the cover 23. The cover, shelf and brush may then be slid into the casing form a rounded surface which is easily snapped within the depressions 30 and 31. The length of the resilient member is, of course, such that the cover is tightly clamped upon the casing and the clamping member may be made, to lie flat against the side of the casing. If desired, the clamping member may be aflixed to the casing to insure against its loss by a metal band 49 about the handle portion 14. The band 49 is placed such a distance from the end 40 of the clamping member and the clamping member has such resilience that the end l0 may be bent away sufficiently to remove the cover.

While I have illustrated my paint brush casing in a form adapted to be used with a flat brush, my invention contemplates the provision of such a casing for every individual brush, and the casing may be made of any form which is necessary to fit closely about the brush. It will thus be observed that it is adapted to be used with round or oblong brushes, as well as flat brushes of any size.

My paint brush casing may be constructed of sheet metal, in which case it may be formed of two halves which are stamped out by appropriate dies and soldered or welded to gether. My invention also contemplates the construction of the paint brush casing and cover in its most economical form by molding the same from celluloid or other plastice compositions which are capable of hardening sufficiently to support the brush and exclude alr.

It will thus be observed that I have invented a paint brush casing which is adapted to completely enclose the whole paint brush, supporting the brush in such manner that its weight cannot fall upon the bristles so that the bristles will not be damaged. Furthermore, my casin g conforms closely to the shape of the brush excluding all unnecessary air and when the cover of my casing is clamped upon the same with a sealing gasket, the brush is enclosed within an air tight casing.

Before enclosing the brush in the casing the paint or varnish should preferably be worked out as much as possible by brushing, so that there will not be sufficient paint or varnish on the bristles to run down on the handle or body of the brush. I have found that where brushes are enclosed in my casing the bristles are maintained in good condition for an indefinite period of time, as the provision of an air tight closure renders the evaporation of the liquid impossible, even in the case of quick-drying varnishes. One theory of the operation of my device for preserving wet paint brushes is as follows, but I desire it to be understood that I claim the essential features of my invention as set forth in the appended claims irrespective of any particular theory of operation.

The amount of evaporation. from any body of liquid or from any wet surface, such as bristles, depends on the vapor tension in the surrounding atmosphere, with respect to the particular vapor formed by the liquid. lVhen the vapor tension about the evaporating surface'reaches a critical point further evaporation ceases, or, what is the same thing, the

amount of evaporation-is equal to the amount of condensation and a state of equilibrium is reached. Where the wet surface is exposed to the open air the vapor thrown off by it is continually dissipated and mixed with surrounding air, so that the vapor tension adjacent the wet surface is not increased appreciably. and this may also be the case where the wet surface is enclosed in a container of relatively large size. Where the wet surface is enclosed in a casing which closely conforms to the surface and eliminates excess air space, this air space is quickly saturated with vapor from the wet surface and the critical point of saturation is quickly reached, after which further evaporation ceases. It will thus be observed that my casing is adapted to substantially prevent evaporation of the paint from the wet brush in such manner that the rush may be preserved for a long time.

My invention is thus adapted to preserve paint brushes in good condition throughout long periods of intermittent use, thereby effecting great economies in avoiding the purchase of new brushes and also enabling better work by the artisan with the brushes s0 preserved. It isa fact that many more brushes are destroyed by improper methods of preservation than by actually being worn out, and the preservation of the brush in proper condition for the best work is a new and useful result which is one of the most important objects of my invention. My casing also enables an operator to enclose the brush in such manner that it may be thrown into a tool kit without danger that the bristles will be bent over or destroyed and the brush may be easily transported from place to place.

WVhile I have illustrated and described a specific embodiment of my invention, many modifications may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention and I do not wish to be limited to the precise details of construction set forth, but desire to avail myself of all changes within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, What I claim is new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In a device for preserving paint brushes, a casing conforming substantially to the shape of a paint brush, a cover for said casing a sealing gasket between said cover and easing, a flange on said cover to be received in said casing, and a flat projecting shelf carried by said cover to support said brush, said shelf having a hook carried by its end to engage in an aperture in said brush.

2. In a device for preserving paint brushes a casing conforming substantially to the shape of a paint brush, a cover for said casing, a sealing gasket between said cover and easing, a flange on said cover to be received in said casing. a. flat projecting shelf carried by said cover to support said brush, said shelf having a hook carried by its end to engage in an aperture in said brush, and a resilient metal clamp having one end engaging in a depression in said casing and the other end engaging in a depression on said cover to clamp said cover in sealing relation.

In a device for preserving Wet paint ln'ushes, an. imperforate casing conforming substantially to the brush about the bristles and handle to eliminate excess air space between said casing and brush, an imperforate cover for said casing, means for providing an air-tightseal between said cover and casing, and means Within said casing to support said brush in predetermined position to protect the bristles. I

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this 19th day of May, 1927.

JOHN F. DAHLSTROM. 

